Xbindkeys is a program that enables us to bind commands to certain keys or key combinations on the keyboard. Xbindkeys works with multimedia keys and is window manager / DE independent, so if you switch much, xbindkeys is very handy.

−

+

−

== Xbindkeys ==

+

−

+

−

Xbindkeys is a program that enables us to assign specific functions, to a certain key on the keyboard. Xbindkeys work with multimedia keys and is window manager / DE independent, so if you switch much xbindkeys is very handy.

+

== Installation ==

== Installation ==

−

You can install xbindkeys from the standard repo's

+

[[pacman|Install]] Xbindkeys with the package {{Pkg|xbindkeys}}, available in the [[official repositories]].

−

# pacman -S xbindkeys

+

−

And you can also install the gui for xbindkeys [http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=4200] which is in [[AUR]]

+

For those who prefer a GUI, there is the {{AUR|xbindkeys_config}} package in the [[AUR]].

== Configuration ==

== Configuration ==

−

Create a file .xbindkeysrc in your home dir

+

Create a file named {{ic|.xbindkeysrc}} in your home directory:

−

touch ~/.xbindkeysrc

+

$ touch ~/.xbindkeysrc

−

Now you can either use the .xbindkeysrc to set keybindings or you can do that with the GUI

+

Alternatively, you can create a sample file by invoking

+

$ xbindkeys -d > ~/.xbindkeysrc

−

== Xbindkeysrc ==

+

Now you can either edit {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}} to set keybindings, or you can do that with the GUI.

+

=== Xbindkeysrc ===

−

If you want to assign a shortcut key to a key run;

+

To see the format of a configuration file entry, enter the following command:

−

xbindkeys -k

+

$ xbindkeys -k

−

Give the command, you get the blank window that you want to assign a shortcut key when the selected key. For example i want to assign Alt + o

+

A blank window will pop up. Press the key(s) to which you wish to assign a command and ''xbindkeys'' will output a handy snippet that can be entered into {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}}. For example, while the blank window is open, press {{ic|Alt+o}} to get the following output (results may vary):

−

I just run xbindkeys -k and press the key combination, this gives the following output:

+

"(Scheme function)"

−

# "(Scheme function)"

+

m:0x8 + c:32

−

m: alt + o: 120

+

Alt + o

−

NoSymbol

+

−

( Use ''xbindkeys -mk'' to keep the key promt open, ^Q exits )

+

The first line represents a command. The second contains the state (0x8) and keycode (32) as reported by {{ic|xev}}. The third line contains the keysyms associated with the given keycodes. To use this output, copy either one of the last two lines to {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}} and replace "(Scheme function)" with the command you wish to perform. Here is an example configuration file that binds Fn key combos on a laptop to {{AUR|pamixer}} commands that adjust sound volume. Note that pound (#) symbols can be used to create comments.

+

# Increase volume

+

"pamixer --increase 5"

+

XF86AudioRaiseVolume

−

Now you can copy these three lines to .xbindkeysrc and fill an command in "(Scheme function)" , then you will get something like this:

+

# Decrease volume

−

# "amixer sset Master toggle"

+

"pamixer --decrease 5"

−

m:0x0 + c:160

+

m:0x0 + c:122

−

NoSymbol

+

or

+

"pamixer --decrease 5"

+

XF86AudioLowerVolume

−

The first line represents the command , the second the key , the third the symbol ( but there isn't any).

+

{{Tip|Use {{ic|xbindkeys -mk}} to keep the key prompt open for multiple keypresses. Press {{ic|q}} to quit.}}

The XF86Audio* and other multimedia keys [http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/XF86_keyboard_symbols] are pretty-much well-recognized by the major DEs. For keyboards without such keys, you can simulate their effect with other keys

+

# Decrease volume on pressing Super-minus

+

"amixer set Master playback 1-"

+

m:0x50 + c:20

+

Mod2+Mod4 + minus

+

However, to actually call the keys themselves you can use tools like xdotool [http://www.semicomplete.com/projects/xdotool/] (its in official repositories) and xmacro [http://xmacro.sourceforge.net/] (in the AUR). Unfortunately since you'd already be holding down some modifier key (Super or Shift, for example), X will see the result as {{ic|Super-XF86AudioLowerVolume}} which won't do anything useful. Here's a script based on ''xmacro'' and ''xmodmap'' from the {{Pkg|xorg-server-utils}} package for doing this[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=843395].

This works for calling XF86AudioLowerVolume once (assuming you are using {{ic|Super+minus}}), but repeatedly calling it without releasing the Super key (like tapping on a volume button) does not work. If you would like it to work that way, add the following line to the bottom of the script.

+

echo 'KeyStrPress Super_L' | xmacroplay :0

+

With this modified script, if you press the key combination fast enough your Super_L key will remain 'on' till the next time you hit it, which may result in some interesting side-effects. Just tap it again to remove that state, or use the original script if you want things to 'just work' and do not mind not multi-tapping on volume up/down.

+

+

These instructions are valid for pretty much any one of the XF86 multimedia keys (important ones would be XF86AudioRaiseVolume, XF86AudioLowerVolume, XF86AudioPlay, XF86AudioPrev, XF86AudioNext).

+

+

== Troubleshooting ==

+

+

If, for any reason, a hotkey you ''already'' set in {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}} doesn't work, open up a terminal and type the following:

+

$ xbindkeys -n

+

+

By pressing the non-working key, you will be able to see any error ''xbindkeys'' encounter (e.g: mistyped command/keycode,...).

Revision as of 15:25, 23 February 2014

Xbindkeys is a program that enables us to bind commands to certain keys or key combinations on the keyboard. Xbindkeys works with multimedia keys and is window manager / DE independent, so if you switch much, xbindkeys is very handy.

Configuration

Now you can either edit ~/.xbindkeysrc to set keybindings, or you can do that with the GUI.

Xbindkeysrc

To see the format of a configuration file entry, enter the following command:

$ xbindkeys -k

A blank window will pop up. Press the key(s) to which you wish to assign a command and xbindkeys will output a handy snippet that can be entered into ~/.xbindkeysrc. For example, while the blank window is open, press Alt+o to get the following output (results may vary):

"(Scheme function)"
m:0x8 + c:32
Alt + o

The first line represents a command. The second contains the state (0x8) and keycode (32) as reported by xev. The third line contains the keysyms associated with the given keycodes. To use this output, copy either one of the last two lines to ~/.xbindkeysrc and replace "(Scheme function)" with the command you wish to perform. Here is an example configuration file that binds Fn key combos on a laptop to pamixerAUR commands that adjust sound volume. Note that pound (#) symbols can be used to create comments.

# Increase volume
"pamixer --increase 5"
XF86AudioRaiseVolume

# Decrease volume
"pamixer --decrease 5"
m:0x0 + c:122

or

"pamixer --decrease 5"
XF86AudioLowerVolume

Tip: Use xbindkeys -mk to keep the key prompt open for multiple keypresses. Press q to quit.

However, to actually call the keys themselves you can use tools like xdotool [2] (its in official repositories) and xmacro [3] (in the AUR). Unfortunately since you'd already be holding down some modifier key (Super or Shift, for example), X will see the result as Super-XF86AudioLowerVolume which won't do anything useful. Here's a script based on xmacro and xmodmap from the xorg-server-utils package for doing this[4].

#!/bin/sh
echo 'KeyStrRelease Super_L KeyStrRelease minus'

This works for calling XF86AudioLowerVolume once (assuming you are using Super+minus), but repeatedly calling it without releasing the Super key (like tapping on a volume button) does not work. If you would like it to work that way, add the following line to the bottom of the script.

echo 'KeyStrPress Super_L' | xmacroplay :0

With this modified script, if you press the key combination fast enough your Super_L key will remain 'on' till the next time you hit it, which may result in some interesting side-effects. Just tap it again to remove that state, or use the original script if you want things to 'just work' and do not mind not multi-tapping on volume up/down.

These instructions are valid for pretty much any one of the XF86 multimedia keys (important ones would be XF86AudioRaiseVolume, XF86AudioLowerVolume, XF86AudioPlay, XF86AudioPrev, XF86AudioNext).

Troubleshooting

If, for any reason, a hotkey you already set in ~/.xbindkeysrc doesn't work, open up a terminal and type the following:

$ xbindkeys -n

By pressing the non-working key, you will be able to see any error xbindkeys encounter (e.g: mistyped command/keycode,...).